Tuesday, July 12, 2005

You do the Vector Math

There are currently quarantines on ash wood products in areas of Ohio and Michigan where the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) has taken up residence. So officials in Ohio were understandably frustrated when they found that someone brought contaminated firewood into the Wild Wings Campground, and understandably upset when they found a nearby ash tree with three larvae in it. As reported by the Toledo Blade, all ash trees within a half-mile radius of the infected tree will now have to be destroyed, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture will be closely monitoring ashes in surrounding areas for signs of the beetles. Anyone caught importing ash wood products or any firewood from non-coniferous trees from Michigan could be subject to as much as a $4000 fine. The interesting question is: Did the contaminated firewood come from a quarantined area, or from an infested place that has yet to be discovered?